About Lord Howe: Educated at Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford. Joined Barclays Bank 1973 working both overseas and in London. Appointed London Director of Adam & Co. plc, the Scottish-based private bank 1987. Became Government whip in the House of Lords 1991 with responsibilities, successively, for transport, employment, defence and environment. Following 1992 General Election was appointed Parliamentary Secretary (Lords) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence 1995.

Was opposition spokesman for Health and Social Services in House of Lords 1997–2010 and is an elected hereditary peer. Apart from his frontbench responsibilities, Lord Howe has previously been a member of the all-party groups on penal affairs, abuse investigations, pharmaceuticals, adoption, mental health and epilepsy. He is married with three daughters and a son.